Shloka 16
दानपात्रापात्र-निर्णयः / Determining Worthy Gifts, Recipients, and Permissible Food
स ते वक्ष्यति धर्मज्ञ: सूक्ष्मधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित् । तमभ्येहि पुरा प्राणान् स विमुड्चति धर्मवित्,सूक्ष्म धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले वे धर्मवेत्ता भीष्म तुम्हें धर्मका उपदेश देंगे। वे धर्मज्ञ महात्मा अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग करें, इसके पहले ही तुम इनके पास चलो”
sa te vakṣyati dharmajñaḥ sūkṣma-dharmārtha-tattvavit | tam abhyēhi purā prāṇān sa vimuñcati dharmavit ||
Él—Bhīṣma, conocedor del dharma, que comprende las verdades sutiles del deber y del bien práctico—te instruirá en la rectitud. Ve a él de inmediato, antes de que ese sabio, versado en dharma, entregue sus alientos vitales.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Seek dharma-instruction from a qualified authority who knows both subtle duty (dharma) and practical welfare (artha), and do so without delay—before the opportunity is lost.
Vaiśampāyana indicates that Bhīṣma, renowned for discerning subtle principles of dharma and artha, is about to teach; therefore the listener (contextually, the king seeking guidance) should go to Bhīṣma immediately, before Bhīṣma gives up his life-breaths.